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))))))))GK MB Fusion 800!!(((((((

#21
I didn't hear the fans on my 800 come on thru the entire gig last night, and it never got warm. I do hear the fan on my MBF500, when it's on. Surprising that one that small makes much noise, but, it does.

Yes, the dual function knobs spin more freely than the single function ones.

Ton of power: yup.
I didn't really need more power than the MBF500; but, the 800 seems to deliver "a little more native heft," which is nice.
For whatever reason, I like the solid state side on the 800 ok-ish; whereas on the 500, I have a clear pref for the tube channel.
I doubt I'll use the ss channel on the 800 much though, the tube side just sounds so much nicer to me!
 
#22
ImageUploadedByTalkBass1370984403.570407.jpgImageUploadedByTalkBass1370984418.552983.jpg
 
#24
I like the control layout of the 800 much better than that of the 500. The switches on top of the 500 don't make much sense to me. The MBF800's layout is very similar to that of the MB800, with the added pushbutton features. The pushbutton pots do turn more easily than the ones without pushbuttons. Not really a problem.

The MBF800 I got yesterday got very hot after a little over an hour of playing, and the fan never came on. I shut it down before it melted. The one I got today works perfectly, and the fan comes on to keep it cool. The fan isn't noisy. It does get a little warm directly above the tubes, but nothing serious.

Tone-wise, it's got something for everyone. The clean A channel sounds very much like the MB800, while the B channel can be adjusted anywhere between clean to warm tube to heavy tube distortion. Loud? Yes. I've been playing it through a CN212, and it gets so loud it scares me. That combination is a real pant-flapper.
 
#27
Chef said:
I never was bothered by the switches on top. The new way is ok too
Click to expand...
+1

Those switches on top were totally "set/forget" for me, so I pretty much never needed to mess with them once I set them. My only minor issue with the 500 is the vents on top making it difficult for me to put my wireless receiver up there.
 
#29
Jim C said:
Anyone have experience with the MB800 vs. the MB800 Fusion.
I am thinking the FET front end of the MB800 might offer a different tone than the MB500.
Click to expand...
I can probably do this, tho we'll have to assume the MB800 and MB500 are tonally identical, and I'm not 100% sure that's a safe assumption if what I'm hearing about the MBF800 vs MBF500 is true... that they sound just slightly different.

I won't get a chance to put mine through the paces until Saturday, but I'll try to gather what I can then. I don't have an MB500, but I do now have the MBF800, MBF500, and MB800.
 
#30
I had the MB800 for a while, tho I don't currently.

I'll say this though: while I think there is a diff, I think it's minimal, and you;'d be hard pressed to tell the MBF800's clean channel from the MB800's clean channel in a live mix.

Same for the diff b/t the MBF500, and MBF800: yes, definitely a diff. The 800 "feels heftier" than the MBF500, so:
The 800 "feels more like a big iron amp," than the MBF500;
just as the MB800 feels diff from the MB500 that way.

Jim C said:
Anyone have experience with the MB800 vs. the MB800 Fusion.
I am thinking the FET front end of the MB800 might offer a different tone than the MB500.
Click to expand...
 
#31
Jim C said:
Anyone have experience with the MB800 vs. the MB800 Fusion.
I am thinking the FET front end of the MB800 might offer a different tone than the MB500.
Click to expand...

Once my MB Fusion 800 gets here, I will have every iteration of the current MB heads, so I will definitely make some comparisons. :cool:
 
#32
Chef said:
I didn't hear the fans on my 800 come on thru the entire gig last night, and it never got warm. I do hear the fan on my MBF500, when it's on. Surprising that one that small makes much noise, but, it does.

Yes, the dual function knobs spin more freely than the single function ones.

Ton of power: yup.
I didn't really need more power than the MBF500; but, the 800 seems to deliver "a little more native heft," which is nice.
For whatever reason, I like the solid state side on the 800 ok-ish; whereas on the 500, I have a clear pref for the tube channel.
I doubt I'll use the ss channel on the 800 much though, the tube side just sounds so much nicer to me!
Click to expand...

Man, looks like a killer amp. I like the change of the switches to push/pull. Those switches always looked a bit DIY or something to me.

And yeah, for some reason, most push/pull pots seem to have that 'loose feel'. Not sure why that is. The push/pull mute/master volume on my Markbass F500 is the same way. I guess just the nature of the beast. Not a big deal.

Nice looking bag, nice looking amp. I bet it just hammers!
 
#33
So far: love it.
Gigs Fri/Sat, two different bands, two different clubs.
Sunday: I play with four different bands on one ticket. Long day, but, big test as all four bands are different styles of this and that.

Just like the gig bag for the MBF500, the bag for the MBF800 will hold two speakon cables, power cable, instrument cable, pedal tuner, and f-deck two nicely.
 
#35
Chef said:
So far: love it.
Gigs Fri/Sat, two different bands, two different clubs.
Sunday: I play with four different bands on one ticket. Long day, but, big test as all four bands are different styles of this and that.

Just like the gig bag for the MBF500, the bag for the MBF800 will hold two speakon cables, power cable, instrument cable, pedal tuner, and f-deck two nicely.
Click to expand...

Would you happen to be taking your Baer ML112 on one of those gigs? Like Jason I'm also curious on this matchup. The voicing controls on that MFB800 look pretty flexible, and with that tube section and the way it must hammer...
:bassist: :D
 
#36
I love the MBF500 with the Baers; so, I expect it'd be no diff with the MBF800.
First gig I did I used 2xGK Neo112, and loved that.

I have a slew of other cabs to work thru.
 
#37
Chef said:
I had the MB800 for a while, tho I don't currently.

I'll say this though: while I think there is a diff, I think it's minimal, and you;'d be hard pressed to tell the MBF800's clean channel from the MB800's clean channel in a live mix.

Same for the diff b/t the MBF500, and MBF800: yes, definitely a diff. The 800 "feels heftier" than the MBF500, so:
The 800 "feels more like a big iron amp," than the MBF500;
just as the MB800 feels diff from the MB500 that way.
Click to expand...

I concur with this 1,000 percent.
 
#39
Chef said:
I had the MB800 for a while, tho I don't currently.

I'll say this though: while I think there is a diff, I think it's minimal, and you;'d be hard pressed to tell the MBF800's clean channel from the MB800's clean channel in a live mix.

Same for the diff b/t the MBF500, and MBF800: yes, definitely a diff. The 800 "feels heftier" than the MBF500, so:
The 800 "feels more like a big iron amp," than the MBF500;
just as the MB800 feels diff from the MB500 that way.
Click to expand...

In that case, most could eliminate some complexity (i.e., some of the possible 'drama' of tubes), size and cost by sticking with the MB800. Makes sense, and it is what I would have expected, given the relatively minor tonal differences I heard between the MB500 and MBF500, and the relatively lack of 'tubiness' in the MBF500, even though it has three tubes.

That is VERY good info for folks. If you can get pretty much the same thing for 'smaller, cheaper, and 'less parts/no tubes', that would be a no brainer for me!
 
#40
I have several things to say about this....;)

"the complexity and drama of tubes: preamp tubes are generally not problemtic, at all. I think in my entire career, I've had one fail. I've been gigging for...35-ish years now, and had more solid state stuff fail on me, fwiw.

"go with the smaller cheaper..." it is in fact true that the MB800 is a little less deep than either the MBF500 or MBF800; but, I personally prefer the tone of the MBF. They're richer and more complex, harmonically. So, I'm glad it's there as a choice. The cost diff b/t any of those isn't all that significant, if you start looking at some other manufacturers "top of the line" offerings; IMO.

ymmv, etc.


KJung said:
In that case, most could eliminate some complexity (i.e., some of the possible 'drama' of tubes), size and cost by sticking with the MB800. Makes sense, and it is what I would have expected, given the relatively minor tonal differences I heard between the MB500 and MBF500, and the relatively lack of 'tubiness' in the MBF500, even though it has three tubes.

That is VERY good info for folks. If you can get pretty much the same thing for 'smaller, cheaper, and 'less parts/no tubes', that would be a no brainer for me!
Click to expand...
 

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